Category: News || By Submitted Reports

A city resident and incoming freshman at Penn State's campus in McKeesport has been awarded a national scholarship from Major League Baseball.

Ta'Juan Dutrieuille, an engineering student, has been named one of the recipients of the 2012 Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities scholarship by the league's charitable arm.

Dutrieuille and 11 other recipients were recognized at the 20th RBI World Series, held July 31 to Aug. 12 in Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minn.

A graduate of Woodland Hills High School, Dutrieuille was a pitcher for the baseball team sponsored by American Legion Post 63 in Swissvale, and pitched and played third base for the Woodland Hills varsity softball team.

Dutrieuille was selected because he demonstrated both academic achievement and community involvement, a spokeswoman said. Dutrieuille was a volunteer for area Boys and Girls Clubs.

Scholarship applicants must be high school graduates with a cumulative 2.5 grade-point average or better, or have earned a GED, and must have been an active member of an RBI league in their community.

The RBI program is a Major League Baseball youth initiative designed to provide opportunities to play baseball and softball, to encourage excellence and achievement in education and to teach the value of teamwork and other important life lessons to underserved young people, ages 5 to 18, from underserved and diverse communities.

The RBI program provides more than 200,000 boys and girls the opportunity to play baseball and softball in more than 300 programs established in more than 200 cities worldwide. MLB and its Clubs have designated more than $30 million worth of resources to the RBI program, and all 30 Clubs support RBI leagues.

The Pittsburgh RBI program began play in 1994. In McKeesport, the Pittsburgh Pirates help support RBI teams for 6 to 8 year olds as well as Little League, Pony League, Colt League and Super Colt baseball teams, along with girls' softball teams, a spokesman said.

(Editor's Note: This article was written entirely from press releases provided by Penn State Greater Allegheny, the Pittsburgh Pirates and Major League Baseball.)